Choosing 'Rewirement': A Chief HR Officer’s Shift to Part-Time

The catalyst for this transition was a sobering confrontation with mortality. Witnessing the sudden deaths of three close friends to pancreatic cancer forced Cheng-Cimini to evaluate her own trajectory. She had spent 30 years climbing the ladder, from startups to established institutions, but found that the emotional and psychological toll of a chief HR officer role left no room for self-care. She resigned in December 2024, rejecting the notion of full retirement in favor of a hybrid arrangement that sustained her professional identity.

Since January 2025, Cheng-Cimini has served as a part-time HR lead for The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The position offers the intellectual stimulation she craves while providing essential benefits like health insurance and 401(k) contributions. By working only three days a week, she has gained the flexibility to mentor younger professionals—a mission she views as a vital obligation given the scarcity of Asian female leaders she encountered during her own rise. Beyond her paid role, she contributes to startup advisory boards and travels with her husband, Michael. This balance has fundamentally altered her outlook, allowing her to stay connected to her industry without sacrificing the time she now realizes is finite.